Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2016 7:41:17 GMT 7
Shouting out support for “Manchester United” or “Liverpool” is a common ruse used by tourist touts in Thailand to start a conversation with British holidaymakers – before luring them into a souvenir shop. And with the rapid rise to the top echelons of the Premier League, they can finally add “Leicester City” to their lexicon. But in this case, Thais are saying it with pride.
The Thai duty free magnate Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha bought the club in 2010 when they were struggling in the Championship. The self-made billionaire wanted to use Leicester to boost Thai brands and it may have been the best business decision he ever made.
While the streets of Bangkok are not completely draped in blue, Leicester City shirts are increasingly common. And on Thai-language football forums, the team are referred to as the “Siamese Foxes”. Vichai’s company, King Power, sells duty free at every major airport in Thailand and with its logo emblazoned across Jamie Vardy’s chest, it is now truly a global brand. But Vichai is credited for bringing a “Thainess” to the team, too, which many attribute to their roaring success.
In September 2014, the owner flew Buddhist monks in to bless the stadium and the players in the early days of their return to the Premier League. After the ritual, the team beat Manchester United 5-3, despite being two goals down in the game. “It was adorable,” said a Thai Manchester United fan, Tadsasorn Tangmatikul, of the monks’ trip. Leicester were her second favourite team, she added, “because it’s a Thai club.”
Continues:
www.theguardian.com/football/2016/feb/13/leicester-city-premier-league-thailand-football
The Thai duty free magnate Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha bought the club in 2010 when they were struggling in the Championship. The self-made billionaire wanted to use Leicester to boost Thai brands and it may have been the best business decision he ever made.
While the streets of Bangkok are not completely draped in blue, Leicester City shirts are increasingly common. And on Thai-language football forums, the team are referred to as the “Siamese Foxes”. Vichai’s company, King Power, sells duty free at every major airport in Thailand and with its logo emblazoned across Jamie Vardy’s chest, it is now truly a global brand. But Vichai is credited for bringing a “Thainess” to the team, too, which many attribute to their roaring success.
In September 2014, the owner flew Buddhist monks in to bless the stadium and the players in the early days of their return to the Premier League. After the ritual, the team beat Manchester United 5-3, despite being two goals down in the game. “It was adorable,” said a Thai Manchester United fan, Tadsasorn Tangmatikul, of the monks’ trip. Leicester were her second favourite team, she added, “because it’s a Thai club.”
Continues:
www.theguardian.com/football/2016/feb/13/leicester-city-premier-league-thailand-football
